Is Fresha still free in 2026? The honest truth about the cost
Fresha is no longer free since 2025. Here is what it really costs in 2026 (subscription, commission, payment fees) and how to decide.
You type "Fresha free" into Google, you land on dozens of articles promising a 100% free salon software, and you think: finally, something that costs me nothing. Except that story is out of date.
A lot of online content predates 2025 and was never updated. It keeps alive a confusion that is convenient for Fresha, less so for you. Here is the clear, dated, honest answer, no spin.
And if you are already comparing booking tools, take a look at Planity vs Fresha to see where each one really stands.
1. Is Fresha still free?
No. Fresha removed its permanent free plan at the start of 2025. The "100% free management software" model that built its reputation no longer exists in that form.
Today, in 2026, Fresha runs on a paid subscription (plans billed per seat or by team size), on top of which sit a commission on certain clients and fees on the payments you collect. There is usually still a roughly 7-day trial to test it. The exact terms change often, so always check Fresha's up-to-date pricing on their site before you commit.
2. What Fresha really costs in 2026
The trap is that Fresha's cost is not a single number. It is spread across three or four line items, and that is what makes it hard to compare. Here is the gap between what is highlighted and the reality.
| Item | "Free" image | 2026 reality |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Free | Paid (per seat / team) |
| New-client commission | 0 | ~20% (clients from the marketplace, minimum amount per client) |
| Payment fees | 0 | ~1.3 to 3.3% per transaction |
| Trial | Unlimited | ~7 days |
The roughly 20% commission applies to new clients who find you through the Fresha marketplace, often with a minimum amount charged per client. Add the payment processing fees on every transaction, and you understand how the tool funds itself: on your revenue, not on your wallet at sign-up.
3. "Free" vs real cost: do the math over a year
To see clearly, do not look at the headline price: look at what you will actually pay over twelve months. The calculation fits in three lines.
Take your business as it is today and add up:
- The annual subscription: the price per seat or per team, multiplied by twelve months.
- The marketplace commission: around 20% on each new client who comes from Fresha, across the year. If you attract a lot of new clients via the marketplace, this line can quickly exceed the subscription.
- The payment fees: around 1.3 to 3.3% on all the revenue you collect through the tool.
Run this calculation with your own numbers before you sign. A salon that collects a lot online and attracts new clients via the marketplace can pay far more than with a fixed subscription and no commission. "Free" never means "no cost".
4. The cost nobody calculates: unanswered DMs
Here is the real blind spot. Even when you pay for a booking tool, whether it is Fresha, Planity or another, it still does not answer the messages your clients send you on Instagram before they book.
of enquiries start with a DM question (price, availability, duration) before any booking
beauty market trend, 2025
A client writes "hi, how much is a balayage?" on a Sunday night. If nobody replies, she does not open your booking tool: she messages the salon next door. You paid the subscription, the commission, the payment fees, and you still lose the client before she ever reaches your booking page.
That is exactly the gap Naiva fills. Naiva answers your Instagram DMs 24/7, in your tone of voice, with your validation when needed. It is not a replacement for your booking tool: it is the conversation layer that plugs in on top. To go further on the options, read the alternatives to Planity.
Recap
Fresha has not been free since early 2025. In 2026 it is a paid subscription, plus a commission of around 20% on new marketplace clients, plus payment fees of around 1.3 to 3.3%. "Free" is misleading: the tool earns its money on your revenue. Do the math over a year with your real numbers, and always check the up-to-date terms.
And whichever tool you pick, keep the hidden cost in mind: unanswered DMs. That is where Naiva steps in. To compare in detail, look at Naiva vs Fresha.
Frequently asked questions
Related articles
Instagram DMs: how to stop losing clients as a beauty professional
Getting DMs but can’t reply fast enough? Learn how to stop losing clients because of unanswered messages.
Instagram auto-reply for beauty salons: the complete guide (2026)
ManyChat, Meta Business Suite, or smart assistant? Compare solutions to automate your beauty salon Instagram DMs.
How many clients are you losing by not answering your Instagram DMs? (the real numbers)
Real stats on revenue loss linked to Instagram DM response time. Interactive calculator included.
Beauty salon: should you reply to Instagram DMs in the evening and at weekends?
The dilemma every beauty pro faces: reply to DMs in the evening or protect your personal time? Discover the third way.
Instagram for estheticians: 7 strategies to turn followers into clients
You post, you get likes, but your followers don’t book? Here are 7 concrete strategies to convert on Instagram.
How to retain clients as an independent hairdresser (without complicated software)
Your clients leave without warning? Discover the real retention levers for independent hairdressers: post-visit follow-up, DM responsiveness and personalised communication.
The 10 questions your clients ask in Instagram DMs (and how to reply without spending 2 hours)
Pricing, availability, duration… Your clients always ask the same DM questions. Here are the 10 most common with a model answer for each.
Independent hairdresser: how to find clients on Instagram in 2026
Optimised profile, strategic content, Reels, hashtags, DM management… The complete guide to filling your schedule through Instagram.
Instagram for nail techs: how to fill your schedule through DMs
Are you a nail tech with unanswered Instagram DMs? Learn how to turn every message into a booking.
How to use Instagram for your beauty salon: the complete guide
Profile, content, DMs, automation: the complete guide to turning your Instagram account into a real booking machine for your beauty salon.
Taking bookings through Instagram DMs: never miss one again
Most of your appointments start with a private message. Here is how to handle booking requests in your Instagram DMs and stop losing clients.
Attracting clients for your spa or beauty institute on Instagram
Your spa is gorgeous but Instagram isn't filling your rooms? Here is how to attract a premium clientele and turn followers into bookings.
Instagram for barbers: fill your barbershop's schedule
Barbering is one of the most visual trades there is. Here is how to use Instagram to show your style, build loyalty, and fill your chair.
Instagram for makeup artists: turn messages into booked work
Weddings, shoots, parties… your makeup work is almost always booked after a DM exchange. Here is how to stop losing those leads.
Booking on Instagram: how to take appointments without sending clients elsewhere
Link in bio, DM request, or booking inside the conversation? Learn how to take bookings on Instagram without losing clients along the way.
The best salon booking alternatives in 2026 (Planity, Fresha and beyond)
Too expensive, too rigid? Here are the real salon booking alternatives, their limits, and the piece almost none of them cover.
How to answer Instagram DMs automatically with AI (without a clunky chatbot)
Most "DM automation" blasts messages out, it doesn't answer your customers. Here is how to use AI to actually reply to your incoming Instagram DMs, in your voice.
Who answers your salon's Instagram DMs while you work?
You post "DM me to book" and your inbox fills with price and availability questions. But who answers them when your hands are full? Here is the piece quietly costing you clients.
How much does Planity cost in 2026? The real pricing
Planity does not advertise its prices clearly. Here is what it really costs in 2026, what is included, the add-ons, and what your booking tool does not cover.
Planity vs Fresha: which one for your salon in 2026?
Planity or Fresha to run your salon? Price, commission, marketplace: the honest comparison, and the question neither of them solves.